Two Feared Dead And Many Injured In Uyo Stadium Opening

The glee and fanfare that greeted the opening of the Akwa Ibom International Stadium in Uyo yesterday, Friday, November 7 was marred by the stampede that left two people suspected dead and scores injured.

Excited indigenes of the state thronged the stadium in their thousands to witness the historic inauguration of the stadium which made it hard for security officials to control the crowd.

Punch reports that several eye witnesses revealed that apart from the stampede which led to the death of the affected people, security men at the gate dispensed tear gas on those trying to gain entry into the stadium.

According to the report, those who sustained injury during the stampede lay for several minutes unattended to by the medical team at the stadium.

While confirming the incident, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Emem Bassey revealed that several unconscious persons were taken to an undisclosed hospital but also said that reports of the deaths were untrue.

“I was told that two persons have been taken to the hospital; these are perhaps people who were fighting at the gate in their bid to enter the stadium,” Dr. Bassey said. “It should be expected; this is the first time this is happening, everybody is excited, everybody wants to enter the stadium. We have 150 medical personnel in this place and eight ambulances. All our medical teams are up and doing and all the clinics are manned,” Mr. Bassey added.